If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register or Login
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Testing the gambler's fallacy

I'd like to test out the gambler's fallacy, using random numbers, and 50/50 odds.
In my program I did 100 rolls for each test.
There are 3 specific tests I'd like to perform. I'm using a random number between 1 and 100 for each roll.
First, the chances of getting below 50 on the first roll.
Second, the number of rolls below 50 a third time after already getting below 50 two consecutive times. (each roll would have to have 2 consecutive below 50 numbers or that roll shouldn't count)
Third, the number of rolls below 50 a fourth time after already getting below 50 three consecutive times. (similar to second test)

Just for anyone who is bored or curious. I'm aware that it should be a 50% chance to roll below 50 on any given test as they are all independent events. However, since the odds of rolling 3 or 4 consecutive numbers below 50 is quite low, I was curious to see some actual numbers.

The first test is pretty obvious, here is what I've done for the second test (third test would be similar) and I'm not sure if I've thought this through correctly, so I'd like a second opinion. I'm getting on average roughly 50.

Re: Testing the gambler's fallacy

First, I would use the cryptographic RNG instead of the seeded pseudo-random number generator to come closer to truely random results.

Second I would generate all of the rolls and record them in an array or list.

Third, I would use a vastly larger set of test data.

Fourth, I would generate 1s and 0s for easier analysis.

To test you need to count (at each test level) both the desireable next rolls, and undesireable next rolls. If the gambler's fallacy is false, over a sufficiently large data pool, the two totals should be nearly equal throughout the dataset at all test levels. If it is true, analysis should show an increasing propensity for desireable next rolls as the number of previous consecutive undesireable rolls increase.

for those who are curious, the gambler's fallacy basically states that: Although the probability that any given roll will be desireable is 50%, the probablilty of a desireable next roll increases as the number of undesireable rolls in a row increase.